Welcome to Professional Coaching!

My name is Ilene Berns-Zare and I’m an executive and life coach, speaker, and author, credentialed by the International Coaching Federation. My passion is helping people flourish in life and work by bringing mind, body, and spirit into flow with their strengths, purpose, and potential.
I see coaching as a collaborative, thought-provoking process inspiring people to ask life’s important questions, view fresh perspectives, access their own possibilities, and take action to maximize their potential.
I have 25+ years of professional experience with individuals and public/private organizations including academic, corporate, and wellness. Since 2022, I’ve served as adjunct faculty with Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership in Washington, DC. In addition, I write a blog for Psychology Today called Flourish and Thrive: Navigating Transitions with Mindfulness and Resilience. My current research explores the convergence of positive psychology, resilience, mindfulness, spirituality, and personal/professional development.
To learn more, let’s have a conversation.
About Ilene Berns-Zare - Life and Work Coach - Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching

Ilene Berns-Zare, PsyD, PCC, CEC

Executive/Leadership Coaching and Life Coaching

Are you looking for a professional coach to inspire you to tap into your best self? My coaching approach is tailored to the individual client, helping you leverage your strengths to maximize your performance and wellbeing. I combine coaching techniques with positive psychology, the scientific study of well-being, and strategies that empower individuals, organizations and communities to thrive. Research shows that people who leverage their strengths are happier and more engaged, experiencing greater meaning and a better fit between life and work.

As a Certified Executive Coach, I can partner with you to help you discover what matters most to you and create a laser focus to move into action — setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and reaching for your personal and professional best.

I’ve coached and led seminars with people in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, accounting, banking, entrepreneurs, professional coaches, education (Kindergarten-university levels), and other fields.

Learn More About Executive/Leadership Coaching and Life Coaching

Life Coaching to Flourish at Midlife and Beyond

One of my passions is coaching with people who want to flourish in the second half of life – their next prime time. 21st century views of adult development invite us to revise how we see adulthood and reimagine what’s possible as we navigate the changing seasons of our lives.

I invite you to explore your next steps in this season of your life. Coaching is a collaborative relationship through which you can access your own answers, strengths, and choices.

Learn More About Life Coaching to Flourish at Midlife and Beyond

Why Choose Coaching?

  • Are you ready to gain clarity and move forward on your strengths as a positive, mindful leader in your life and leadership?
  • Are you looking for greater life-work balance?
  • Have your kids left home and you’re ready for your own prime time?
  • Are you looking toward a thriving, fulfilling retirement?
  • Do you want to connect to your purpose or calling in life?
  • Are you thinking of making a major change in your life?
  • Are you ready to do something about your “what if’s” and move toward who you can become?
Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching - Why Choose Coaching

Curious About What You Can Find on this Website? Hear From Ilene…

Life and Leadership Coaching Services

Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching - Services - Positive Leadership

Positive Leadership

Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching - Services - Flourishing in Second Half of Life

Flourishing in Second Half of Life

Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching - Services - Meaning & Mindfulness Coaching

Meaning & Mindfulness Coaching

Ilene Berns-Zare Coaching - Services - Flourishing Organizations Offices

Flourishing Organizations/Offices

Flourish In Life and Work Newsletter

Tap into your callings, strengths, and potential. Subscribe to the IBZ Coaching Newsletter to receive Ilene’s monthly newsletter “Flourish”! Keep up with Ilene’s latest blog posts!

Ready to Make a Shift in Your Life?

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25 Powerful Questions for Awakening Meaning in Life and Leadership

“Why do I love your newsletter? It’s written in simple, understandable language that I can grasp as a non-native American. You concentrate all the best in the subject you want your reader to get. If I want, I can go deeper because you add the references at the end. You offer informative ideas and maybe of all of them, there might be a few I can use. I ignore the rest and I have a feeling it’s OK with you. This is not the newsletter I want to delete. Your newsletter talks to me.”
– Magda G

Working with Ilene

  • Ilene empowers clients to listen to their inner voice and heart, clarify goals, and focus on positive steps to reach their vision and life objectives.
  • Ilene supports clients to create their own plan and hold to it, so it doesn’t get lost in the day to day of life.
  • Ilene can help clients move towards their personal and/or professional best.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Effectiveness of Coaching

According to research over recent decades conducted by PriceWaterHouseCoopers (2016; 2008):
  • 80% of coaching clients reported positive changes in interpersonal skills, communication skills, work performance, and relationships.
  • 93% of clients who partnered with a credentialed coach reported satisfaction with the experience.
  • The median Return on Investment for corporate executive coaching was 7 times the initial investment, and 3 times the investment for individual executive coaching clients.

Hear From Ilene’s Clients

“At year’s end, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your wonderful newsletters. Just now I listened to your podcast. From that 15 minutes, I have gained some motivation to review the notes from your seminar. In turn, that will give me an extra boost that I need right now. As you can see, your wisdom keeps extending itself to me! Thank you for all you have done for me. I am wishing you all the best!”

Renee

Northwest Suburban, IL

“Thank you so much for today – it was a wonderful webinar. Very insightful, very calming and reassuring. You always have so much to offer, and I’m truly grateful for your willingness to share your time and talent with us.”

Lynndah Easterwood Lahey, Wheeling Township

Arlington Heights, IL

“As a library program coordinator, I greatly appreciated Dr. Berns-Zare’s willingness and enthusiasm to try an online webinar format in response to our need to cancel in-person events at this time. She did an excellent job adjusting her presentation to this format and kept it engaging.

Our patrons also gave positive feedback, stating that they enjoyed the “Hitting Your Stride at Midlife and Beyond” program and felt they walked away with concrete suggestions for ways to enhance their lives, especially during this difficult time. I think so many of the topics that Dr. Berns-Zare speaks on are especially relevant right now and would recommend them to other program coordinators, whether in-person or virtual.”

Stavroula Harissis, Indian Trails Public Library

Wheeling, Illinois

“I’ll admit I had my doubts about coaching before working with Ilene. As a high-performing “Type A” personality, I had never thought of myself as someone who needed coaching. Wasn’t that just for people who weren’t cutting it? I knew my craft as a marketer and had plenty of job-specific training under my belt. How could a coach who has never worked in my field help?

I’m glad I took the plunge. You are in charge with Ilene. Her structured coaching process forced my thinking into new areas of opportunity, and helped me see key areas of my business that I was ignoring. Even though I was already making progress towards my goals, I feel even more certain that I am on the right path today. I highly recommend Ilene to anyone interested in maximizing the contribution they make to their business.”

Rich Delaney, Rich Delaney Marketing

Oak Park, IL

“I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ilene Berns-Zare on a presentation that she gave for the Community Parent Network of Stevenson High School. Ilene was thorough and worked hard to understand what our committee was looking for, while also offering her own ideas. Her approach to the topic of mindfulness was flexible and she was willing to meet our community needs. Ilene was warmly received by the community while speaking in a knowledgeable and engaging manner. Everyone left the presentation feeling like they learned something valuable.”

Mara Heichman (CPC, ELI-MP)

Upcoming Webinars

Strengthening Resilience and Well-Being During Uncertain Times
Mindfulness for Your Life and Leadership Toolbox
Introduction to Blue Sky Visioning
Hitting Your Stride at Midlife and Beyond with Meaning, Resilience, and Well-Being

Just Get Started and You Don’t Have to Like It: 5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating - IBZ Coaching

Contact Ilene Today to Inquire About Coaching

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